Valve



Nov. 1, 1927.

' A. B. ANTISELL VALVE Filed, Aug. 51. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A.5. AN T/JELL Nov. 1, 1927. v

A. B. ANTISELL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR A. 5. ANT/661.1

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

ALFRED B. ANTISELL, OF YORK, N. Y.

VALVE.

Application filed August 31, 1926. Serial No. 132,662.

My present invention relates to valves, particularly to valves having ahermetic seal about the valve stem in the form of a flexible diaphragmsecured to the valve chamber walls and to thevalve stem, and flexing asthe valve and valve stem move to and from the valve port. In valves ofthis'type, the flexing portion of the diaphragm is subjected on one sideto the full pressure of the fluid confined in the valve chamber, and onthe opposite side is subjected merely to atmospheric pressure. As thediaphragm must be made of thin, flexible material, this pressure imposesa relatively severe strain on the material of which the diaphragm isconstructed.

An object of my present invention isto provide a rigid supporting meansfor the diaphragm on the outer side thereof without interfering with orlimiting the free movement of the diaphragm.

In the attainment of this end, a number of spaced supporting arms areprovided to extend from the fixed peripheral portion of the diaphragmtowards the center, and having inclined surfaces against which the outerface "of the diaphragm rests and is supported, when flexed to itsoutermost position. Vfhen the diaphragm is pushed inwardly by the valvestem, its outer face is supported by spaced arms carried on the valvestem and extending between the stationary arms, the supporting surfaceof these valve stem arms being inclined to the same angle as thediaphragm when it is flexed inwardly. lhe diaphragm in its intermediatepositions is supportedpartly by one and partly by he other setof arms.In allrpositions' of the diaphragm the portions spanning the spacesbetween the armsremain unsupported.

A further object of my invention is therefore to provide a reinforcementor support) for the diaphragm in the areas between the supporting arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve construction forvalves of'the above type in diaphragm may be independent of-and ofsmaller periphery than the area of the valve plate or valve seat.

Other objects and features of the invention are to provide a valve ofthe type described having circular, concentric support-s which theflexing area of the 1 for the diaphragm in .all of its positions and, inturn, supported by the supporting and gulding arms.

'lVith'these andother objects in view, the invention comprises the valvedescribed and set forth in the following specification and claims. V-

The various features of the invention are illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawing, in which: 7

Fig. l'is a section taken longitudinally of the axes of the valve andvalve, stem of a valve embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section of the valve taken on line 2-42 of-Fig. 1, the partsbeing broken away to more clearly show the structure of portions ofthevalve.

Fig. 3 is plan view of a diaphragm sup porting spiral forming apart ofthe invpn- +i v 1 011.,

7 Fig. l is a plan view of a modified form of diaphragm supportingmeans.

In my present invention a valve chamber is provided with an openingspaced from the'valve seat, and this opening is closed by a flexiblediaphragm having a valve secured to it on itsinner side, and movable toand from the valve seat as the diaphragm is flexed inwardly oroutwardly. In allof its flexed positions the outer surface of thediaphragm is supported by reinforcing or supporting means of a circular,concentric structure, such as a series of concentric rings ,or a spiralthat permits bending on radial lines, but which is rigid transversely ofthe radii of the flexing areas. The concentric, circular diaphragmsupports are supported in all their positions by stationary armsextending towards the axis of movement of the diaphragm, or by armssecured to the outer side of the diaphragm and extending betweenthestationary arms. The interspersed stationary and moving arms areinclined from their respective outer and inner supports so that when thediaphragm is flexed outwardly, the support of the reinforcing elementsis taken up by the stationary arms, and when flexed inwardly, it isassumed by the movable diaphragm arms. This. reinforcing structure may,of course, be used where the diaphragm is flexed by an outwardly appliedforce, as in closing a valve, or in cases where pressure is used totransmit movement through the diaphragm. As

the valve is secured to the diaphragm it may be made larger or smallerthan the flexing area of the diaphragm and, accordingly, the area of thediaphragm subjected to pressure may be made independent of the area ofthe valve port.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, a diaphragm 10is mounted to span and close an opening 11 in a valve chamber 12directly opposite and slightly spaced from a valve seat 13. The outeredge portion 14 of the diaphragm 10 is secured between a flange 15 onthe casing 12, and a flange 16 extending outwardly from a bonnet 17,tightly clamped to the flange 15 by means of a pair of U-shaped bolts18. The diaphragm is further supported on its outer side over an arearadially inwardly of the edge of the opening 11, by means of an annularplate 19 mounted in a recess in the flange 16 and projecting past theedge of the opening 11. The portion of the diaphragm 10, within theinner periphery of this plate 19 is therefore free to be flexed inwardlyagainst the pressure acting on the inner face of the diaphragm. In theembodiment shown, the diaphragm .is flexed inwardly and outwardly bymeans of a valve stem 20 threaded into a rotatable sleeve 21, retainedin its vertical position in an opening in the upper part of the bonnet17. The sleeve 21 is rotatably secured to the bonnet 17 by means of aflange 21 resting against the inner face of the tdp wall of the bonnet17, and by a ring 22 secured to the sleeve 21 and resting against theupper edge of the wall of the bonnet 17. The ring 22 is provided with ahand wheel 23 for turning the sleeve.

To the lower end of the stem 20 a head 24 is secured by means of acylinder, and

a pin 27 passing therethrough and through covering that portion of theface of the diaphragm opposite the bottom of the head 24:. The bolt 28is secured in the head 24 by means of a nut 30. or other suitableconnection. Y

As the hand wheel 23 is turned in one direction or the other while thevalve stem 20 is kept from turning, the diaphragm 10 is flexed inwardlyand outwardly, and the valve plate 29 is moved to or from the valve seat13, and at the same time the flexing portion of the diaphragm 10 issupported by means of a number of arms 31 extending radially outwardfrom the head 24, and meshing with a number of converging radial arms32, extending from the inner periphery of the plate 19 towards the valvestem. The lower portions of the arms 31 are inclined upwardly andoutwardly so that when the head 24 is in its lowermost position thesearms will extend from the head 24 to the inner periphery of the plate19, and therefore be in position to support those portions of thediaphragm which lie beneath these arms. The arms 32 are converselyinclined centrally andupwardly so that when the diaphragm is flexeddownwardly or inwardly its surface is free from the lower surface of thearms 32, but when drawn upwardly or outwardly until the lower inner faceof the head 24; reaches the upper edge of the lower surfaces of the arms32, the portions of the diaphragm beneath the arms 32 will restand besupported by these arms, while those portions of the dia phragm beneaththe arms 31 will be unsupported. The arms 31 and 32 being intermeshed,prevent-the stem 20 from turning as it is raised and lowered, therebyrendering the use of a key and keyway unnecessary for preventing thestem 20 from turnmg.

To prevent the arms 31 from being forced downwardly out of engagementwith the arms 32, the outer ends of the arms 31 are preferably providedwith upwardly projecting lugs It will be apparent that as the valve stem20 moves inwardly and outwardly, the support of the diaphragm 10 on itsouter side is assumed in turn by the arms 31 and 32, and that when thesupport of a certain part of the diaphragm is taken by the arms 31, thespaces between the arms 31 and below the arms 32 are unsupported, andthat when the support of the diaphragm is formed by the arms 32, thespaces between the arms 32 are left unsupported. To support thediaphragm throughout its entire area, a number of rings as shown in Fig.1 or a single spiral 34 as shown in Fig. 3 are positioned on thediaphragm concentrically. with the axis of the valve stem 20. The ringsor spiral of wire 34 span the distances or spaces between the arms 31and 32, respectively, and support or reinforce all the parts of thediaphragm. The rings or spiral 34; permit the diaphragm to bend freelyon radial lines and, therefore, do not interfere in any way with itsflexibility.

The spiral 34; may be conveniently held in its proper position bysecuring its inner end to the head 24:, as at 35, and securing its outerend to the ring 19 as at Any suitable type of spiral or concentric ringarrangement may be employed. A spiral, preferable from many standpoints,may be made by making a spiral cut in a disc of sheet metal. A spiralreinforcement of this type has the advantage that it supports theflexible diaphragm throughmlt its surface without forming any raisedrib-like portions. It is also extremely flexible while providing thenecessary strength.

It will be apparent from the description given above that the innerperiphery of the plate 19 may be made of any desired diameter regardlessof the dimensions of the also that the valve chamber 12 might beprovided with a flange extending inwardly and narrqaving the opening 11to approximately the same area as the plate 29.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of myinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be. interpretedas illustrative and not in limiting sense.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve of the type described which comprises a valve chamber, aflexible diaphragm closing and forming a wall of said chamber, a valvestem secured to said diaphragm, a stationary annular member on the outerside of said diaphragm and having outwardly inclined stationary armsextending towards said valve stem, upwardly inclined arms secured tosaid stem extending bet-ween said stationary arms, and concentric wireson the outer side of and supporting said diaphragm and supported by saidarms.

2. A valve of the type described which comprises a. valve chamber, aflexible dia phragm closing and forming a wall of said chamber, a valvestem secured to said diaphragm, a stationary annular member on the outerside of said diaphragm and having outwardly inclined stationary armsextending towards said valve stem, upwardly inclined arms secured tosaid stem and extending between said stationary arms, and reinforcingwires on the outer side of and concentric with the axis of said Valvestem and supporting said diaphragm between said arms.

3. A valve of the type described whichcomprises a valve chamber, aflexible diaphragm closing and forming a wall of said chamber, a valvestem secured to said diaphragm, a stationary annular member on the outerside of said diaphragm and having outwardly inclined stationary arms,arms carried on said valve stem adjacent said diaphragm and extendingbetween said stationary arms, and a valve plate secured to the innerside of said diaphragm and extend- .ingbeyond the outer ends of saidarms.

i. A valve of the type described which comprises a valve chamber, aflexible dia phragm closin and forming a wall of said chamber, a va vestem secured to said diaphragm, an annular diaphragm supporting platehaving diaphragm supporting arms extending from its inner peripherytowards said valve stem and inclined outwardly from the plane of saidplate, said supporting plate being on the outer surface of saiddiaphragm, and diaphragm supporting arms extending from the centralportion of said diaphragm outwardly between said inclined arms, and avalve plate secured to the under surface of said diaphragm and extendingoutwardly beyond the ends of said support- 1ng arms.

5. A valve of the type. described which comprises a valve chamber, aflexible diaphragm closing and forming a wall of said chamber, a valvestem secured to said diaphragm and projecting outwardly therefrom, astationary member on the outer side of said diaphragm and havingsurfaces inclined outwardly and converging towards said valve stem, anda valve plate securedto and spaced from the innerface of said dia--phragm, the periphery of said valve plate being greater than that of theflexing portion of said diaphragm.

6. A valve of the type described which comprises a valve chamber havinga valve stem, a valve plate, a flexible diaphragm between said stem andsaid plate, a removable plate on the outer side of said diaphragm forsupporting said diaphragm having an inner periphery about saidvalve stemless than the outer periphery of said valve plate, outwardly inclinedand intermeshed arms extending radially from said supporting plate andsaid valve stem, and concentric flexible reinforcements for said dia-.

phragm extending transversely of said arms.

7. In a device of the type described, a flexible diaphragm, means forsupporting said diaphragm at its outer portion a valve secured centrallyof said diaphragm and a metal spiral centered on the axis of movement ofsaid valve on the face of said diaphragm opposite said valve, andextending to the edge of the flexing area of said diaphragm meanssecuring the inner end of said spiral to said valve, and means securingthe outer end of said spiral to said diaphragm supporting means.

8. In a device of the type described, a flex ible diaphragm, and a metalspiral of flat sheet metal mounted on said diaphragm and extendingfrom'the central portion to the edge portion of the flexing area of saiddiaphragm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature,

ALFRED B. ANTISELL.

